Self-closing gate.



PATENTED MAR. 3, 1903.

J. W. HENDERSON. SELF CLOSING GATEK APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1902.

N0 MODEL,

WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS.

THE NORRIS pz'rsns cu. PKOTO-LIYNOH WASNYNGTON, n. c.

llNTTno STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HENDERSON, OF TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI.

SELF-CLOSING GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,104, dated. March 3, 1903.

Application filed July 29,1902.

To all whom, it nmy concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tunica, in the county of Tunica and State of Mississippi, havein-vented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Closing Gates, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a swinging gate with means whereby it will be automatically closed when opened.

The invention consists, broadly stated, in the peculiar and special combination of devices which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in Which Figure 1 is a view showing my invention in use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the gate part way open. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line X X of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing my invention in modified form. V

In carrying out my invention I provide the upper part of a gate with a peculiar lever or arm A. It will be noticed that this arm consists of two horizontal portions B O, joined by an upwardly-bent portion D with the lat ter near the fixed end or portion B of the arm.

It is understood that the arm A must be secured fixedly to the gate, and the same may be eifected by screws or nails passing down through the portion B into the top rail thereof.

The rear end of the arm A is provided with an eye E or other suitable means, with which is connected one end of a cord F, passing over a grooved roller G. The other end of the said cord is provided with a weight H, located below the roller G, as shown. In further carrying out my invention I secure to the top rail of the fence a peculiar plate I, forming support for the roller G, which latter is held between the forked arms of a vertical pin J. The lower end of this pin is made rounding, adapted to enter a hole K in the outer end of the plate I and extend down into a socket L, with rotary movement therein.

The parts above described are intended to be used with a wood fence and gate of com- Serial No. 117,522. (No model.)

mom and well-knownform, but are equally adapted, with slight modification, to be used with any form of fence and gate, whether the same be constructed of wood or iron. In either instance the weight H may be inclosed by a suitable case or tube M, as shown in Fig. l of my drawings. The above description of the details of my invention will enable the unskilled tomake and use it.

In further reference to my invention I will call attention to my special construction of the arm A. It will be noticed that by elevating its end 0 the same is made to swing free of the top rail of the fenceat all times, even should the gate in use sag at its latch side, as commonly results with large and heavy gates.

Further attention is called to my special means for supporting the roller G with its pin J pivotallyheld in the elongated socket L, providing a broad bearing, such as will insure upright position of the roller, and thereby render the rope F less liable to be pulled out of its groove when the gate is opened or closed.

In operation it is understood that the gate is pulled open to position, as shown in Fig. 2, for passage through. The weight being of sufficient heft, it is apparent that, when the gate is freed by the person passing through, its strain on the cord F will pull the free end of the arm A toward the fence, and thereby swing the gate to closed position and so hold it until it is again forcibly opened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a self-closing gate, an arm fixed to the gate and extending beyond the hinged side thereof, a roller having rotary movement, means for supporting said roller consisting of an elongated socket fixed to the fence, a cord extending from the free end of the said arm, a Weight supported atthe lower end of the said cord and a fixed casing inclosing the weight substantially as described.

2. In a gate of the character described, in combination, an arm having its free end or portion elevated above its fixed end'or portion bya bend therein above the hinged side cal pin, and a Weight supported at the lower of the gate, a cord extending from the free end of the said cord substantially as deend of the said arm over a grooved and pivscribed.

otal roller, a vertical pin adapted to support JOHN W. HENDERSON. the said roller, a plate adapted to be fixed to Witnesses: the fence having an elongated socket with CHAS. W. STEPHENS,

.the latter adapted to receive the said verti- VILLIAM L. SCOTT. 

